Milking-machine.



L. L. STORY.

MILKING MAGHINE.

PPLIcA'LfIoH FILED snPT. 17, 190s.

77@ M l BY ArrofrNf-ys r L. L. STORY,

MILKNG MAUENE.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1908.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4Afro/mns .wanted July 13,1909.

L. L. STORY.

MILKING MACHINE.V

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1908.

Patented July 13,1909. 5 sHETs-sHEBT s.

W/TNESSES E Y @Klux/r l.. L. STORY.

MILKING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1908.

Patented July I3, 1909.- y

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4. f

W/ TNE SSE S Hf 75M M A TTOHNEYS L.L.sToBY. MILKING` MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1908.

ATTORNEYS .ad mim T Hf wm m Quim .I.a n Vd 14m m@ Y mm d5 0 e w D a P S.v EL S F. w w a f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

LEONARD LEACH STORY, OF EAST FAIRFIELD, VERMONT.v

p MTLKINGMMACHINE.

To all'whom it may concern: i

. Be it known that I, LEONARD STORY, a

' citizen of the United States, and a resident l relates also to the construction ofthe teat cups and the manner of actuating them in the milking operation.

The invention contemplates the emplo ment of a'vacuum pump to assist in the mil i- 1n glhe invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

VFigure 1 is a plan of a milking machine constructed accordin to my invention, certain parts beingbro en away; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the machine, certain parts being broken away; this section is taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine, "certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken through' the upper part of one of the teat cups and illustrating the operating mechanism for the same; this section is taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 o Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective illustrating the device in practical use; Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the lower end of a link which operates a valve or Cock which leads from the milk receiver to the re.- ceptacle or milk bucket; and Fig. 8 isan elevation showing the inner end of one of the plates, a plurality of which are employed in connection with each teat cup, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Referring more particularly to the parts,

' and especially to Figs. 1 to 3,'1 represents the frame of the device, which comprises two Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 17, 1908.

Patented July 13, 1909. serial No. 453,519.

cross bars 2, 2. Below these cross bars 2, 2 an'under frame 3 is su pported, and above the cross barsya super-frame 4 is supported. The superframe 4 comprises vertically-disposed guide-stems 5, on which cross-heads 6 are adapted to slide in a vertical direction. Said cross-heads comprise sliding sleeves 7, which slide on the guide-stems,`as indicated, and these sleeves are connected. by parallel guide-bars 8." 0n the guide-bars 8V cupholders 9 are adapted to slide. These cup- 4holders are in the form of split sleeves, as

sho-wn, adapted to slide freely or to be fixed by means of clamping-bolts 1() arranged as shown. These sleeves 9 are provided with pintles 11 which project laterally on the guidebars 8, and to these pintles knuckles 12 are attached. These knuckles are in the form of two split sleeves 13 and 14, the

sleeves 13 being loose to permit free movement, or clamped rigidly to the knuckles b means of clamping bolts 15, nas indicate The sleeves 14 are disposed at right angles to the guide-bars 8 and theyare adapted to clamp pintles 16v respectively, which are formed with knuckle-forks 17, as indicated in Fig. 3. These Aknuckle-forks 17 are provvided with ears 18 which are pivotally attached to ears 19a which project laterallyT from the cam boxes 19 of the teat cups. The sleeves 14 are split like thelsleeves 13,

and are adapted to move freely or be clamped rigidly in position by means of clamping" bolts 20, as shown. The cam boxes 19 are formed on the sldesof the cups 2l which are arranged as shownm Fig. 1. The construetion of these cups is very clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each cup comprises'a substantially cylindrical case 22 which is provided at its upper end with an inwardly-projecting annular flange 23 and an integral head 24 at the lower end. This head 24 is formed with a threaded nipple 25 and the flange 23 is depressed, as shown, to enable a threaded neel; 26 to be formed in the end of the case therebi'iyondl @Supported centrally within the ease l provide a sleeve 27 of rubber, or similar nnaterial.4 The bodyr of this sleeve is of substantially cylindrical form. vhcn mounted in \\th`e tcat-cup its wall is pressed from the'exterior so as to form sections 28,-whieh areof successively smaller diameter in a downward direction. At the lower en d the sleeve 27 is formed with a laterally-projecting lip which is provided with an integral ring 29, said ring being seated Y Vu Ywhich is grooved to receive the ring, as indi- 25.. J-This ring-29 and the lip upon which 1t is formed, are clamped rigidly in position by means of a cap 31 which screws onto the nipple 25, as shown, said cap having an ann lar liner or washer 32 on its inner side cated. The cap 31 is itself provided with a threaded nipple 33, to which a flexible-hose 34 is'attached. The upper end of the sleeve 27 is formed with an integral ring or lip 35, and from this lipl 35 a diaphragmor head 3.6 extends. This ead is provided with a plurality of concentric rings 37, and the outermost of these rings is clamped under a keeperring 38, which screws into the threaded neck 26 and seats on a Washer 38, which clamps the head 36. In thisway the. cup. is supported in position. v.

Within the case 22 I provide a p'lurality of rings 39, and these rings are arranged one above the other and correspond to the' different sections 28 of the cup. These rings "39 constitute lever-holders,'for upon their ull-iper and lower faces levers 40 are pivota y attached, said levers having tails 41 which project radially beyond the edges of the rings and are formed with slots 42. In the slots 42 pins 43 are received, and these pins project outwardly from the upper and lower faces of cam rings 44. These camrings are of larger diameter than the rings 39 and they are arranged concentrically and corresponding therewith, so that each levercarrying ring 39 is surrounded by a camring. The lowermost of the rings 39 is provided with lugs 45, which seat on the bottom-head 24, as shown in Fig. 5. Similar lugs 46 are provided on the adjacent faces of the rings 39, which come together, as shown, in such a Way that the upper rings seat uponan-d are supported upon the lower rings.

In order to prevent the rings from shifting upon each other, dowel pins y47 are employed at the lugs 46. From this arrangement it should be understood that the rings 39 may be shifted bodily in a rotary direction. For this purpose one of the rings 39 is provided with an outwardly-projecting arm 48 which extends into the cam box, as indicated in AFig. 4. This arm is for the pur ose of l hereinafter.

enabling the rings 39 to be adjuste The details of the mechanism for .accomplishing this adjustment will be described more fully The inner arms or long arms of the levers 40 are curved as shown, and extend to a point near the side wall ofthe sleeve 27. At this point, to each lever a curved plate 49 is pivotally attached. The bodies of these plates are slightly curved, as shown, and lie tangential y around the sleeve 27. Eachplate 49 extends a short distance beyond the pivot pin 50 which attaches it to its lever so as to form a short projecting tail 51. These tails 51 are bifurcated so as to present forks 52 which are connected by vertical guide pins 53. In this way guide slots or openings 54 are formedin the tail end of each p ate. The plates are arranged around the sleeve in sucha way that the body of each plate asses through the guide opening or slot 54 1n the next adjacent plate, as indicated in Fig. 4. From this arrangement it should be understood that if the levers 40 are actuated so as to advance their inner ends inwardly,

27 so as to contract it. When this movement takes place, the plates 49 slide freely through the guide openings 54,. as will be readily understood. In this way the plates 49 are made to form a colla sible shell about the sleeve, and these she s correspond to the diderent sections 28, or diametersof the sleeve.

I provide means for operating the levers as suggested through the medium of the rings 44. For this purpose each cam box is provided with a vertical shaft 55 and each shaft is provided with cams 56, 57, 58, and 59, as shown in Fig. .5. These cams are provided with grooves- 60 in the faces thereof, and these grooves receive the ends of arms 61 respectively, which roject out from the rings 44, as shown. t should be understood that when the machine is in operation, the shaft 55 rotates the upper cam 56, which will operate first to shift the arm 61 which connects with it. This will give a slightly rotary movement to the uppermost of the rings 44, and this will shift the inner ends of the levers 40 of this section of the sleeve in- A the plates 49 will press the sides of the sleeve j ulates the action of the fingers in milking, for

the cams hold the sleeve sections 28 contracted until the lowest one of all has been contracted, then they liberate the sections all in unison.

In order to adjust th'e normal position of the levers 40 so that the sleeve 27 will have a normally increased or reduced diameter, I provide mechanism in connection with the arm 48.1, For this purpose the arm 48 is formed with an enlarged guide opening 62 in the end thereof, and in this guide opening slides a block 63. This block has a swivel pin 64, which is threaded transversely to'- receive a transversely disposedadjusting screw 65 which passes in a horizontal positated the block63 Will be moved in or out and this will shift the arm 48. This shifts the rings 39 which carry the pivot pins of the levers 40. This of course adjuststhe normal position of the levers and adjusts the diameter of the shells or contracting rings which. the plates. 49 lorm around the sections of the sleeve.

In order to drive the cam shaft 55, i provide two flexible shafts 67 which extend downwardly in U form, as indicated in Fig. 3, the ends of the shafts being attached to the cam sli-ait as indi-cated. These flexible shafts are suitably inclosed in: tubular shcaths 68 and near their middle points they are provided with Worm Wheels 69. Thr-rse Worm Wheels mesh with Worms 70 which are carrier-l upon the mai-n shaft 71 which extends lpngitudinally of the frame, as shown, so that When the shaft 71 is rotated the cam shaft will' also rotate. The shaft 71 is provided with cranks 72 to which connecting rods '73 are attached, the upper ends of the said' connecting rods being pivot-.ally attach/ed to Wrist bai-s 74 carried by the lower ends ci the cross heads 61 aforesaid. The connectin `rods 73 are formed in two sections, the o Wer sections 75 being in the form 'of stems which are received in the bore of the tubular upper sectionsV 76. The upper sections 73 are provided with set screws 77 for clamping the stems rigidly in position, as will be readily understood. In this way the length ci the connecting rod 73 is made adjustable.

In a central position with respect to the cups 21, there is provided a receiver 78 for the milk. This receiver is in the form of a hemispherical shell havingl a dat head or cover 7 9. Through the head 79 the .cups 21 are connected with the receiver 78 by means of the flexible hose 34 referred to above. ln the upper portion of the receiver 78 a dishshaped guardsplate 80 is provided. The edges 'or "this guard-plate v80 are supported just beneath theco-ver 79, and at. its middle point or bottom it is Vprovid-ed with an opening 81f, which communicates with the interio-r of the receiver. At oneside of the machine; as indicated in Fig. 2, there is provided a vacuum um 82, which consists simply of a cylin `er isposedinea vertical position, havingan outlet check lvalve 83 at' er end which is actuated toward its` seat y 'a spring 84, as shown.' Near the lower endl of the cylinder an inlet-checkvalve 85 is rovid'ed, which is normally held on its seat y a. spring 86. From the valve 85a tube 87 extends over'tothe receiver 78 and passes through the hea-d 79; so asto communicate with the space cut off by the guard-plate This` space constitutes a vacuumcup, and' its operation will be more fully explelned hereinster. der' 82 a piston 88. reciprocates, said piston In the cylin- A gear Wheel is rigidly attached to the shaft 7l., as indicated, and is adapted to be rotated by means et" a bevel pinion 94 carried upon a driving shaft 95 arranged as indicated. The upper end of the connecting rod 92 is atahcd to the guide-stem 89 by means of o At. l

it the bottom of the mil-k receiver 78 a stop. cock Q8 is provided, .having a plug 99 which is adapted to be rotated into one poH sition to open communication from the recciver to the milk receptacle 100- thro-ugh the medium of a hose 10.1. In the other posi?- tion of the plug communi-cation is cut eff, and this is the position of the plug when the vacuum pump is in operation. In order to open and close this sto-p cock the plu-g 99* is provided with a crank 102, and to this crank a link 103 is pivotally attached; the lower end of this link 103 is formed` Witha slot 104, as shown in Fig. 7, and through this slot passes thewrist pin. of a crank 1105 formed on the shaft 71. Thisl slot '104 co.- operates With the crank 105. to open or close the stop cock 98 periodically at the end of each stroke of the crank 105. At the ends of the cross bars 2, 2, stirrups `106 are provided through which the ends of supporting straps 107 are passed' in loops, as shown. These stra s pass down the sides of the cow at the flank, as indicated in Fig. 6, and are Vprovided with adjusting buckles 108, as

shown. The upper end of the strapl is attached to a supporting plate 1509 disposed horizontally above the coWs ru-rnp and supported on elastic straps 110 from the ceiling or stable Wal-l.

The general mode of operation of the machine noW bedescribed: The cups=21i by means of the knuckles 12 may be adjusted into any position desired. By sliding the.

knuckles inwardly toward the middle poi-nt of the frame, the distance between the cus measured longitudinally ci the frame may e adjusted. By rotating the-cu s on the knuckle forks 17 the cu s may brought 1nwardly toward the on` 'ltudinal axis' of the frame, as will be read'i understood. The sleeves 13l and I4 of the nucklesenableany desired angular adjustment of the cups tobe made, and by means of the clamping bolts the cups may then be secured rigid-ly m position. The device is then applied in a proper position and adius-ted by means of the stra s 107. In adjusting the cups tothe cows u der,'the connecting rods 73 may be lengthened or shortenedas desired and' made rigid by the set screws 77. As thesshaft 71:

rotates, the uppermost cams 56 in the-,cam

box actuate the levers 40 of the uppermost section of the sleeve 27 so as to contract them around the cows teat, the other cams then 'come into operation with a similar effect and at the same time the crank 72 moving downwardly begins to depress the cross heads 6. In this way the teat is not only compressed progressively from the nipple point downward, but it is pulled downwardly so that the hand milking movement is very exactly silnulated. .As the shaft rotates, the piston 8S also moves downwardly and'this produces a partial vacuum in the vacuum pump 82 above the piston. As soon as the piston passes the valve 85, the effect of the partial vacuum is communicated to the receiver 78.

lThis takes place immediately after the closing movement of the uppermost of the plates 49 actuated by the carn 56. During the time that the piston 88 is below the valve 85, the stop cock 98 'is held closed so that there is no danger 'of the partial vacuum being broken by the admission of air from the tube 101.

The vacuum cup formed above the guard plate 80 .is useful in diffusing the effect of the vacuum and in preventing any tendency of the draft created through the milk tube 34 to become unequal; in other words the guard plate o erates as an equalizer so that a-substantially equal suction will be produced in all the milk tubes. It also prevents the milk from being slop ed into the air tubes 87. The iexible sha ts 67 of course permit the cups to be readily adjusted as described. The flexible diaphragm 36 which forms the upper end of the sleeve 27 permits the sleeve to spread in contracting and expanding, as will be readilyunderstood. The ring 37 formed inthe diaphragmjfhead 36 gives the head a certain amount of stiness and assists in returning it to its`normal position.

Attention called to the fact that by reason of the presence of this ring 37 the head or diaphragm 36 ieidivided into three or'more annular expanding portions which expand and contract when the sleeve is in operation. Extending downwardly, embedded in the wall of the sleeve, I provide a plurality of non-elastic cords 27 a. These do not extend throughout the entire length of the sleeve, but reach to the point near the lower end, as indicated. These cords prevent an elongation of the sleeve from taking iplace, but at the same time the lower end o the sleeve is left unrestricted and it can elongate as may be` necessary to adapt itself to the moyements of the lower end of the sleeve in milking. The rings 35 and 37 tend by contracting, to counteract the pull exerted by the diaphragm and by resting on top of the ulppermost levers, they tend to support t e diaphragm vagainst inward collapse under the vacuum.,

The arms 61 are resilient and will spring or give slightly in operation; in this way, they 4` may prevent the rings 44 from receiving the entire amount of movement received by the arms 61.

The cam boxes 19 are provided with exhaust nipples 19b having outwardlyopening check valves 19*3 which are held "on their seats by springs 19d. To these exhaust ni ples the intake tube of an air pump may e attached to exhaust theair from the` cam boxes and produce a partial vacuum within them. This partial vacuum is useful in assisting to restore the teat cu s to their normal condition after they have een squeezed. In this connection attention is called tothe atmospheric pressure within them which tends to force their walls outwardly.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-

1. In a milking machine, in'combination, a frame, ,a pluralityof cups mounted thereupon, -means for` adjusting the position of said cups upon said frame, said cups having collapsible sleeves therein, means for contracting said sleeves in sections and progressively downward, and means for drawing said cups downwardly.

2. In a milking machine, in combination, a frame, cross heads guided thereupon, a plurality of cups mounted on said cross heads and having contractible sleeves, members engaging the outer sides of said sleeves, means for contracting said sleeves, and means for reciprocating said cross heads.

v3. In a milking machine, in combination, a frame, cross heads guided thereupon, a plurality of cups mounted on said cross heads and having contractible sleeves, means for contracting said sleeves, means for reciprocating said cross heads, a crank shaft in said frame, connecting rods connecting said crank shaft with said cross heads, and means for adjusting the length of said connecting rods.

4. In a milking machine, in combination, a frame, a plurality of cups adjustably mounted thereupon and having a contractible sleeve therein, means for contracting said sleeve, flexible shafts for actuating said last means, and a main shaft for flexible shafts.

5. In a milking machine, in combination, a frame, cross heads having guide bars mounted thereupon, cup holders adjustably mounted on said guide bars, cups adjustably carried by said cup holders, and means for reciprocating said cross heads.

actuating said 6. In a milking machine, in combination, a

frame, cross' heads sliding on said frame and having horizontally disposed guide bars, cup holders sliding on said guide bars and adapted to be secured rigidly thereupon, cups corresponding to said cup holders, and means for adjustably securing all of said cups respectively upon said cup holders.

v1ero vacuum in said receiver, `means 7. In a milking machine, in combination, a frame, a plurality of cups adj ustably mounted thereupon, a receiver, hose connecting saidy cups with said receiver, a vacuum pump connected with said receiver, said cups havmg contractible sleeves-therein, means for contracting said sleeves, a shaft actuating said last means, and means for actuating said pump from said shaft.

8. In a milking machine, in combination, a frame, a plurality of cups having contractible sleeves, means for contracting said sleeves, a receiver having an outlet, a stop-cock at said outlet, means for producing fa partial for mechanically closing said stop-cock when said partial vacuum is produced, and for opening sa1d stop-cock after producing said partial.

vacuum, hose connecting said sleeves with said receiver, and a receptacle for the milk connected with said outlet. r i

9. In a milking machine, in combination, a frame, a plurality of cups having contractible sleeves mounted upon said frame, a receiver, tubes connecting said cups with said receiver, a vacuum pump connected with said receiver, means for contracting said sleeves, a shaft actuating the same, means for actuating said vacuum pump from said shaft, a stop cock leading from said receiver, and means for opening and closing said stop cock actuated by said shaft.

' 10. .ln a milking machine, in combination, f1 frame, cups carried thereby and having contractible sleeves, mechanisms for actuat ing said contractible sleeves, flexible shafts for actuating said mechanisms, a main shaft mounted in said frame, means for rotating said flexible shafts from said main shaft, andmeans for adjusting said cups.

11. In a milking machine, in combination, a frame, cross heads 'guided thereupon, cup holders adjustpbly mounted von said cross heads, cups, a- -.plurality of adjustable knuckles connecting said cups with said cup holders, and means for actuating said cross heads. Y

12. In a milkingg''machine, a cup having contractible sleeves, contractible shells 'formed of... plates..y disposed around said sleeves, and v means for contracting said shells. v

1.3. In a milking machine, a cup having a contractible sleeve, a plurality of shells disposed along said sleeve and formed of plates engaging the sides of said sleeve, and means for actuating said plates to contract the wall of said sleeve from the upper end thereof downwardly.'`

14. `In a milking machine, a cup having a contractible sleeve with a diaphragm head extending laterally therefrom at the upper end of said sleeve, and means for contracting the wall of said sleeve in sections.

15. In a milking machine, a cup having a contractible sleeve, a plurality oi' plates pivotally mounted around the wall of said sleeve and interlocking with each other to form a contractible shell, and means' for forcing said plates inwardly to reduce' the dimensions of said shell, and contract Said sleeve.

16. In a milking machine, a cu having la contractible sleeve, a plurality ci llevers projecting inwardly toward said sleeve, a plurality of plates pivotally mounted on said levers and engaging the wall of said sleeve to contract the same, and meansior actuating said levers simultaneously to force said plates inwardly against the wall of said sleeve.

17. In a milking machine, a cup having a contractible sleeve, a plurality of levers pro jecting inwardly toward said sleeve, a plurality ofplates pivotally mounted on said levers, means for guiding said plates one upon the other so as to form a contractible shell about said sleeve, and means for actuating said levers simultaneously to contract said shell. i

l18. In a milking machine, a cup having a contractible sleeve, a plurality of members projecting inwardly toward said sleeve, plates pivotallymounted on said members having tails with guide openings, said plates being arranged so that each plate passes through the guide opening of an adjacent plate, and means for forcing said members inwardly to' contract said plates on said sleeve, said guide openings affording means Vfor guiding said plates when moving inwardly to contract said sleeve.

19. In a milking machine, a cup having a contractible sleeve, a plurality of rings mounted in said cup, a plurality of. lovers carried by said rings, means actuated by said levers for contracting said sleeve, and a plurality of rings engaging said levers, andmeans for actuating said last rings in succession.

20; In a milking machine, a cup having a contractible sleeve, `a pluralityof rings mounted said cup, a plurality of levers carried by said rings, means actuated by said levers for contracting said sleeve, a plurality of rings engaging Isald levers, means for actuating said last rings in succession, and means for adjusting the position of said rst rings t0 change the normal diameter oi said sleeve.

21. In a milking machine, a cup having'a contrctible sleeve, mechanisms mounted in vsaid cup and adapted to contract said sleeve in sections, means for actuating said mechanisms in succession, and means for adjusting said mechanisms.

22. In a milking machine, `a cup having a contractible sleeve, a ring therein, a plurality of levers carried by said ring, plates carried by said levers and engaging the wall of said sleeve to contract the same, a cam ring enl gaging said levers to actuate the same, and a cam actuating said cam ring tomove said levers.

` 23. In a milking machine, a cup having a contractible sleeve, a pluralityT of contractible shells formed around said sleeve, a plurality of cam rings, mechanisms actuated by said caml rings forcontraoting said shells, and a plurality of cams actuating said cam rings. 24. In a milking machine, a cup having a contractible sleeve, a plurality of rlngs, levers carried by said rings, plates carried by said levers and forming a contractible shell around -said sleeve, said rings being connected so as to move in unison, an arm projecting from said rings, an 'adjusting screw for adjusting the position of said arm, a plurality of cam rings engaging said levers to actuate the same, and a plurality of cams respectively actuating said cam rings.

25. In a milking machine, a contractible sleeve having non-elastic members extending longitudinally thereof, and contractible rings surrounding said sleeve and contracting the same in sections. y

26. In a milking machine, a contractible sleeve having non-elastic members extending longitudinally thereof contractible rings sur'- rounding said sleeve and contracting the 4'same in sections, said non-elasticmembers terminating near the lower end of said sleeve,

and means for securingthe lower end of said sleeve.

' 27. In a milking machine, in combination,

a contraotible sleeve, a case in which said' sleeve is mounted, a valve in the wall of said case through which the air within said case may be Withdrawn, andrmeans surrounding said sleeve for contracting the same. 

